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Referee Mohamed Adel was at the center of a dispute after Mali's AFCON quarter-final loss to Ivory Coast on February 3, 2024.
Referee Mohamed Adel found himself at the center of a heated dispute following the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final match between Mali and Ivory Coast, which concluded with the host nation securing a 2-1 victory in extra time on February 3, 2024.
The match, already pulsating with the tension of a late winner by Oumar Diakite, spiraled into chaos at the final whistle, leading to significant repercussions for the Malian team.
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In the aftermath of Diakite's decisive goal, Mali earned a corner during stoppage time, only for Adel to blow the whistle for full-time shortly thereafter.
This decision incited fury among the Malian players, who quickly surrounded the Egyptian referee.
Hamari Traore, the Real Sociedad star, was at the forefront of the protests, earning himself a direct red card for his vehement objections.
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Footage from the match revealed Adel pushing Traore in what was described as an act of self-defense, highlighting the intense atmosphere that had engulfed the game's closing moments.
The altercation necessitated the intervention of Malian coaching staff, who worked to deescalate the situation and guide their players away from the official.
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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has since issued a statement outlining the disciplinary actions taken in response to the incident.
"The Fédération Malienne de Football was charged with misconduct following unsporting behavior of its players towards the match official," part of statement reads.
"The Disciplinary Board found the player Hamari Traore guilty of unsporting conduct towards the match official. Traore was suspended for four (4) matches, two (2) of which are suspended for a period of one year," it adds.
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Furthermore, the Mali Football Federation was fined $10,000 (equivalent to Ksh 1,415,078.00), reflecting the seriousness with which CAF viewed the incident.
Additionally, the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football faced penalties for their team's misconduct, resulting in a $5,000 fine (equivalent to Ksh 707,539.00).
The match's contentious end also saw Ivory Coast's hero being sent off for a second yellow card after removing his shirt in celebration adding to the night's drama.
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